A month later and there they were. One big happy, dysfunctional family. Josh got his big house. He kept the fiancé on the one side and the ex- girlfriend and the daughter on the other. He lived with Lynne but visited Donna and Olivia. It was a nightmare for all involved parties.

"How are things?" Toby asked as he arrived for the housewarming party that Josh was throwing – it was partly to show everyone his new house, partly to show off his daughter and partly to re-acclimate Donna to Washington, DC.

"She's not speaking to him at the moment," Sam laughed as he let Toby and CJ into Josh's new home.

"Which one?" CJ asked.

"You know what? I think both," he shook his head. "I don't know why he didn't cancel this damn thing."

"Bragging rights," Leo said coming in. "He wants to show off his daughter. He's a proud Dad."

"Leo – the press are going to hear about this. He hasn't been quiet about the party. Danny is invited, I think," CJ sighed.

"Who cares anymore?" Leo asked. "Really – enough is enough. The guy's lost enough, don't you think?"

"He still has his career, Leo," Toby reasoned. "How's he gonna react when it goes away? Cause you know that's what's coming. Hell – Josh has to know it. He lives for when these types of situations happen to other people. I mean – he has to know, right?"

"I don't think he's thinking that far ahead," Sam sighed. "He was floored that Donna kept his child a secret. All he's thinking about right now is getting to know his daughter and somehow making this whole thing work."

"I hope he can," Leo sighed. "For his sake I hope he can." And with that, Leo made his way into the great room where Josh, Lynne, Donna and Olivia were entertaining the other guests.

"For all of our sakes," CJ muttered and followed Leo with Toby at her heels.

"How many more months do we have in office?" Will asked as he glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Eleven till the next President is sworn in," Sam sighed.

"I need a drink," Will sighed as he made his way to the kitchen.

"Bring me back something," Sam called. "I'll stay by the door for a while."

----

While no one could agree on much of anything, they all could embrace the fact that Olivia Joan was adorable. She had curly, unruly light brown hair like her daddy and dimples that made everyone melt. Her eyes were big and blue like her mother's and she lit up rooms the instant she entered them. She commanded attention and, just to feed Josh's ego, her favorite stuffed animal was a red, white and blue stuffed donkey. Sam and Will had given it to her a while back and Josh beamed whenever she clung to it.

"She really is beautiful," CJ sighed and smiled at Josh. "Simply adorable."

"Yeah," Josh smiled at his daughter as Donna showed her off to Margaret and Leo. "She's amazing."

"How's Lynne doing with everything?" CJ asked, clearing her throat.

"She'll adjust," Josh said. "She just...she's just needing sometime to – ya know – adjust."

"Uh huh," CJ said, trying to follow. "It must be hard on her. You're not, you know, throwing Donna and the baby in her face all the time, are you?"

"What are you getting at CJ?" Josh asked.

"I'm just saying that you need to make sure that Lynne gets your undivided attention sometimes. She's going to marry you – she'll be Olivia's stepmother, yes – but she'll be your wife. She needs to know that you're in this for her and that you put her near the top of your list, ya know?" CJ tried to make him understand.

"I know she's your friend, CJ," Josh sighed and poured himself another glass of scotch. "And I know this is hard for her – I mean, I get that. But she's not at the top of my list anymore. She's just not. It's Olivia now. It'll always be Olivia. And when we get married...when we get married she'll be my wife. And that will be that. Olivia will never have too many people to love her in her life. And Lynne is fond of Olivia and I'm happy about that. But Donna is Olivia's mother. Donna will always be a part of my life because of Olivia. No matter what – Donna is here. And I won't ask her not to be. I won't ask her to make herself scarce or even consider suing for custody once we get married," Josh said in no uncertain terms.

"Who said anything about that?" CJ asked.

"Lynne brought it up the other night in bed," Josh sighed. "I won't do that to Donna. No mater how mad I am with her at the moment or however pissed I get with her in the future – I could never take away her little girl. I just couldn't do it."

"You're a good man, Josh," CJ smiled at him. "You're a good father."

Josh looked alarmed at the candidness present in CJ's voice. "It was the first time they had been completely civil with each other since she found out that he and Donna were dating way back when. "Thanks," Josh smiled sincerely at her. "That means a lot. Cause now...that's what I am. I'm a Dad," he said proudly. "And since I need to be the best at everything – I am going to strive to be the best damn Dad in the world."

"You're off to a good start," she whispered and kissed him on the cheek.

----

He shook his head and smiled a little at her as she went to coo over Olivia and then he downed the rest of his drink and poured another. He'd been doing that far too frequently – the having another thing. He used to just stick to beer...but gradually he'd become smitten with scotch. It was a manly drink he decided one night with Sam. And, after all, he was a man. He should have a man's drink. He just maybe shouldn't have four or five, he pondered as he realized he'd lost track of how much he'd drank.

"I'll have a scotch on the rocks," Toby said to the bartended in the corner of the room as he eyed Josh with the same drink slumped in a chair near him. "How ya doing?"

"Good," Josh tried to smile. "Wonderful."

"Great," Toby nodded and smirked. "How much have ya had?" he asked, nodding to Josh's almost empty glass.

"Not nearly enough," Josh muttered.

"Yeah," Toby chuckled. "You're probably right, ya know? Olivia is a beautiful little girl," Toby offered as they both glanced over to CJ, Carol and Donna passing around the baby. "She takes after Donna."

"Yeah," Josh sighed.

"How's Lynne? She's been scarce this evening," Toby observed.

"She, um, she had a cold or something," Josh tried to explain. "She'll be around again in a bit I'd assume."

"Uh huh," Toby sighed. "How's this all going to work?" Toby asked, more directly.

"What?" Josh asked, swallowing the remaining brown liquid.

"This," Toby gestured around the house. "You, your fiancé, Donna, and your child? Definitely not ideal living conditions for anyone."

"It'll work itself out," Josh sighed with frustration. "I love Lynne. I love Olivia. And I lo...," he paused. "I care about Donna. I want what's best for her and our daughter. Right now I have the ability to give it to her. I can help her and I intend to do it. God knows she's helped me out of more jams than I can count.

"Do you still – I mean," Toby sighed and downed the rest of his scotch. "Do you still have, I don't know," he said. "Do you still have feelings for her?" he asked finally.

"For who?" Josh asked. "Donna or Lynne?"

Toby smiled then and shook his head. "I gotta go now," Toby told him.

"What? Wait! Who did you mean?" Josh tried again.

Toby smiled. "Your confusion worked for me." As he got up to leave, he noticed Donna coming over with Olivia in her arms. "You look beautiful, Donna," Toby told her as he kissed her cheek and then the baby's head. "You, too, Olivia."

"Thanks, Toby," Donna smiled as he left her alone with Josh for the first time since she'd told him about Olivia. Usually when Josh would stop in her wing, she'd have a guest or he'd bring someone in – this was to allow her to feel less awkward. "Great party," she murmured as she sat in the chair next to his and kept looking forward.

"Yeah," Josh sighed. "Jesus Donna," Josh sighed loudly. "You can't even look at me anymore?"

She turned and faced him. "That's not true," she insisted, sounding hurt.

"Sorry," he said shaking his head. "I'm just not...I don't know. I've just not been myself lately."

"You drink too much," she told him with a grin.

"I know," he shook his head. "And the more I drink?" he laughed. "The more depressed I feel. Isn't it ironic?"

"Don't ya think?" she added with a grin.

"It's like rain on your wedding day," he smirked back.

"It's a free ride when you've already paid," she continued.

"It's the good advice, that ya just didn't take," he murmured.

"Who would have thought," she whispered.

"It figures," he said quietly shaking his head with a faint grin.

"Ironic by Alanis," Donna sighed. "I used to love that song," she laughed.

"I remember," Josh sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair. "You used to sing the damn thing all the time at work. It drove me crazy."

"That's why I did it," she giggled, eliciting a full-fledged grin from Josh.

They stared at each other for too long. The previous conversation was the first time they'd been 'them' since she'd told him about Olivia. It was perfect. It was 'JoshandDonna' the way it should be, and they both knew it. Donna cleared her throat and Josh directed his attention to the buffet table set up across the room.

"She's tired," Donna said, breaking the silence.

"We should get her to bed," Josh agreed.

"I can take her," Donna protested while Josh reached for Olivia.

"Do you mind if I do it? You could tag along," he smirked. "You know – in case I mess up or something."

"Let's go," Donna smiled and followed Josh and Olivia down the hall.

----

Leo saw them disappear and smiled. They looked like a family. He hoped that they'd be able to figure this whole mess out. He wanted Josh to be happy. He wanted Donna happy. He wanted Olivia to have the perfect life. He also wanted everyone to still be marketable in the political arena and the scandal to be as minimal as possible for all involved.

"Where's Josh?" Lynne asked, emerging from a back room.

Leo turned and smiled at Josh's fiancé. "You know – I'm not sure," Leo told her. "How are you, Lynne?" he asked with a grin.

"Very good Leo. I'd be better if I could just find Josh, I'd be perfect," she laughed.

"How's everything going, Lynne?" Leo asked. "You know – with this whole thing and all," he elaborated.

"I hate it," Lynne said simply. "I'm not all that fond of the way Donna handled things with this whole matter. I'm not too fond of Josh's dealing with things, either. But, what can I do?" she asked. "He does have a right to see his daughter. He does have right to provide for her. And right now – he thinks what's best is to provide for Donna, too. Soon he'll come to realize that this whole mess is too confusing to Livvie. Until then," she sighed. "I'll deal," she shrugged. "I'll deal."

"I think you're doing a great job," CJ smiled, joining the conversation and squeezing her friend's arm. "By the way, I think I saw Josh putting Olivia down to bed," CJ offered.

"Great," Lynne smiled. "I'll see you guys in a bit," she said, prancing down the hall to get to the steps that led to Olivia's bedroom.

"Nice going, CJ," Leo said with an exasperated nod.

"What?" CJ asked.

"You saw Josh go Olivia's room with Donna," Leo assessed.

"Yes, Sir," CJ said slowly.

"And you sent Lynne there to..." he prodded.

"I didn't mean anything," CJ insisted. "She asked a question and I answered it."

"I already answered her," Leo explained.

"But you didn't tell her the truth," CJ said. "Josh is a big boy," CJ sighed. "We can't keep coddling him and keeping his little secrets. Lynne is my friend and I will not allow her to be hurt in anyway."

"Okay," Leo said. "Okay," he said again and nodded to her as he wandered to collect Margaret. "I'll see you tomorrow," he tossed over his shoulder as Margaret kissed Sam goodbye.

----

Olivia went right down and Josh smiled happily. He usually didn't get to put her to bed for the night. That was usually Donna's job. But tonight...tonight he could be a real Dad. Tonight they were like a family. He stood back and allowed Donna full access to the crib so she could double check that Olivia had her little donkey tucked safely in next to her and she was warm enough. Donna gently caressed her daughter's hair and smiled with pride. Overcome by the moment, Josh stepped behind her and put his arms tentatively around her waist and hugged her. To his surprise she relaxed back into him and allowed him to continue the hug. Together, they both smiled at their little girl. She moved her hands over his and he leaned down to be nearer to the smell of her hair.

"She's perfect, isn't she?" Donna asked quietly. "A perfect little person."

"A perfect little Democrat," he chuckled softly in her ear.

"Of course," she beamed.

'Thank you," she said suddenly. "For doing this for us. I could never give her all this," she said glancing around the room.

"It's nothing more than you both deserve," he told her. "Consider it a little repayment for all the things that you've done for me over the years."

"I was your assistant. It was my job," she told him.

"I am Olivia's father," he countered. "It's my job to see that she's happy. And I've decided that if your happy than she's happy," he reasoned.

Donna smiled again and relaxed for a moment in his arms. Her eyes began to flutter shut and she realized that Josh had guests. "We should get back to the party," she told him, moving forward and thus relinquishing all physical contact with him.

Josh stared at her for a moment, trying to read her. They used to be so in sync and now all of a sudden, they just weren't. "Can I," he whispered. "Can I put her to be sometimes?"

Donna smiled at him and straightened his tie and smoothed his hair. "Whenever you want," she told him.

"You about done?" Lynne asked from the doorway.

Josh and Donna looked at her startled. "What?" Donna asked.

"I was looking for you," she told Josh as she kissed him on the lips and ignored Donna completely.

"You found me," Josh smiled at Lynne and then glanced quickly at Donna. She looked confused and hurt. "We were just putting Olivia to bed," he explained.

"Next time you do it, will you call me?" Lynne asked hopefully.

"Why?" Josh asked.

"I want to be all prepared for when she comes to live with us and then when we have our own child," she explained.

"Wait," Donna interrupted. "Why would she live at your place?"

"Cause once we have custody we get to keep her," Lynne smiled sweetly. "Didn't Josh tell you?"

"Honey," Josh began to scold Lynne. "We didn't even really discuss things all that much."

"You want to take custody of Olivia?" Donna asked Josh in shock.

"Donna," he sighed. "That's not what I want to happen," he tried to explain.

"It'd be less confusing to your kid to not do this," Lynne explained. "Josh and I can keep her in the life in which she is accustomed.

"You're a bastard," Donna whispered as she tore out of the room.

Josh started to go after her when he felt Lynne's hand on his arm pulling him back.

"Let her go," Lynne sighed. "She's in a mood or something."

Josh walked into the hall, followed closely by Lynne. "Why did you do that?" he demanded.

"It's what's best of Olivia," she whined.

"No," he told her.

"No?" she asked – it was clearly not something she'd heard often.

"Olivia needs Donna – she needs her mother," he explained.

"She needs normalcy," Lynne argued. "This house situation is not normal."

"I know," he said as he shook his head. "It just needs to work for a little while longer."

Lynne smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "We'll do what we can," he told her.